WND EXCLUSIVE

Christians turn higher power on 2012 election

'This is the time for God's people to pray. Let's see what God will do'

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially.

They say there are no atheists in foxholes and prayer – no matter what the Supreme Court says – is common in public schools come test times, but it appears the prayer focus of the 2012 election is going to make those other situations look like secular events.

An organization called “If My People 2012” is coordinating dozens of prominent Christian leaders and dozens of topics of prayer for an intense campaign aimed at America’s current state in the 40 days leading up to the 2012 election.

It’s the second major program with a similar focus, as officials with “40 Days to Save America” not only are organizing local churches to pray for the nation, but also are coordinating fasting and action from Sept. 28 through Nov. 6.

Anne Graham Lotz is one of the key leaders behind the “If My People” campaign, and says the signs of trouble are everywhere: economic turbulence, natural disasters and a breakdown in the social fabric of the nation.

“God is trying to get our attention, and this is the time for God’s people to pray,” she said. “Let’s see what God will do.”

Spokesman Greg Downey said in a report to participants and others, “We have asked 40 national leaders to take a prayer topic which will be captured on video and released on YouTube, Facebook, our mobile app, media outlets and our website to remind and encourage people to pray for that specific topic throughout the day.

“In addition to the 40 Days, we are working to provide users with easy web and mobile access to voting guides from each of the 50 states, so you really know who you are voting for on Nov. 6th,” he said.

He said it obviously will require “more than a few newly elected officials to turn our country around.”

But he said, “As Israel did on so many occasions and received God’s blessing and forgiveness, we need to do the same as a nation. This initiative is based around God’s promise found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 which states: ‘If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.'”

Other leaders who are working on that effort include Stephen Arterburn, Henry Blackaby, Vonette Bright, Ken Ham and Alan Sears. They will be addressing revival, humility, seeking God, repentance, fathers, mothers, children, marriage, religious liberty, the nation’s immorality, schools, the Senate, the president and other subjects.

Downey said the two groups are not in competition – but actually are seeking the same goal.

He told WND the goal is “a revival, plain and simple. A revival in America. Back to our Founding Fathers’ vision for this country. I would love in my lifetime to see a revival.

“Without turning back to God, no matter who gets elected, we’ve got big problems,” he said.

The 40 days is significant, as that is a frequent time period during which miracles happened in the Bible. For example, it rained for 40 days and nights when God wanted to cleanse the world, when Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and when the Israelite spies spent 40 days searching out the Promised Land. Also, Jesus also fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before launching his ministry on earth.

“I believe America is in a very real crisis,” Scarborough said earlier. “It is clear that God is speaking right now to America, and unless there’s a genuine repentance and a great move toward repentance and reunion with God, a cataclysmic judgment is going to fall on this country.”

He continued, “All the pieces of the puzzle are in place. All that’s left is for God to gently tug – and it all comes apart.”

He said morality in the United States – which is moving quickly toward an ethical standard of abortion at will, marriage being what feels good and a class of endowed elites – is approaching “a point from which there is no return.”

Christians, he said, need to “sacrificially enter into a time of prayer, and if they’re physically able, of fasting,” to seek God’s face and his will.

Leaders include Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, Janet Porter of Faith2Action, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, David Bereit of 40 Days for Life, Gen. Jerry Boykin of Kingdom Warriors, Jim Garlow of Renewing American Leaders, Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church, Penny Nance of Concern Women for America and others.

Leaders of the effort say the nation’s difficulties all have spiritual underpinnings and are even more daunting than what Americans confronted in 1776, 1863 and 1941.

Those dates were when the nation’s leaders, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, respectively, “declared national seasons of prayer, fasting and repentance.”

According to the Barna Group, there are more than 324,000 Protestant churches in America, with an average Sunday worship of 100 adults. They cite studies showing that three quarters of regular church attenders do not vote regularly or at all.